Letter 3030: I know that a letter of service intrudes importunely on the cares and occupations in which, under heaven's help, you...

Avitus the bishop to the lord Sigismund. I know indeed that a service of letters is pressed importunely upon the cares and occupations in which, under heaven's help, you keep faithful watch for the safety of the homeland. But since the most exalted graciousness of your devotion has not forgotten so particular a servant — to the point that, in the very readiness of the campaign you had undertaken, it doubled in my mind the longing for you by a sweet address — who would not understand that you will patiently tolerate the ineptitude that you yourself provoke by your clemency? Hence I presume to be anxious as to how you are in health, with God strengthening you, and how the hope of our common prayer smiles upon your undertakings. But this I not only ask; rather, by that grace which you have received from God and bestow upon me, I beg: that, although by good right we are made the more secure regarding the firmness of the loyalty you have proclaimed, by the more lavishly bestowed gift of your watchfulness, you yet take thought for our trembling and our faintheartedness, and not weigh more what the whole community, devoted, supplicates on your behalf than what it dreads in suspense. For although we are fearful, sinners by our own conscience, we presume nevertheless with unhesitating faith that, even if — with Christ protecting you — this fear of ours shall have prompted only a smile, it will yet move the divine ears to grant us the joy of your good fortune.

Avitus episcopus domno Sigismundo. Scio quidem curis atque occupationibus, quibus sub ope caelesti pro salute patriae fideliter excubatis, importune suggeri servitium litterarum. Sed cum praecelsa pietatis vestrae dignatio adeo peculiaris famuli non sit oblita, ut in ipso susceptae expeditionis procinctu sensibus meis desiderium sui suavi duplicaret alloquio, quis non intellegat, quod patienter ineptiam tolerabitis, quam clementia provocatis? Vnde qualiter sani confortante deo sitis, sollicitus esse praesumo, aut quomodo coeptis spes voti communis arrideat. Illud autem non solum rogo, sed per illam, quam a deo accepistis et mihi praestatis gratiam precor, ut, quamquam merito de indictae fidei firmitate securi nobis magis impenso cautelae vestrae munere simus, trepidationi nostrae et ignaviae con- sulatis neque plus cogitetis, quod universitas pro vobis devota supplicat, quam quod suspensa formidat. Sed licet pavidi ex conscientia peccatores, incunctabili tamen fide praesumimus, quod, etiamsi vobis protegente Christo hic metus noster risum sub- moverit, vel divinas aures ad donandam nobis felicitatis vestrae laetitiam permovebit.